It’s time for a change

Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge fan of food. Especially things that contain bacon, butter and lard — not to mention my affinity for sugary drinks like Coke, Mountain Dew and beer.

However, a diet consisting of those items has pushed me toward a morbidly obese category. Deep down I know that in moderation, I could still enjoy some of my favorite meals, but anytime I have tried to change my diet I would slowly forget the moderation part.

When I was younger, it was easier to feel immortal. I could brush off the concerns from my family and felt like nothing was going to stop me.

That began to change with the passing of my father in 2015, and when our youngest was born in 2016, the belief that I was unstoppable disappeared completely.

I started to notice that my level of interaction with the kids hardly extended beyond the sofa. In the rare instance that I did get off my butt, I would grow winded quickly and my temperament would change into something reminiscent of Oscar the Grouch.

Only a portion of the utter laziness could be attributed to my unhealthy diet. A key contributing factor was the two packs of cigarettes a day I would smoke.

I am a horrible smoker. I light up on my way into a store. I light up on my way out. I smoke several cigarettes when I first wake up, and of course I smoke several before I go to bed.

I freak out when I don’t have cigarettes on me and I have to have a lighter in every pocket just in case.

I smoke at least once every hour, and there are plenty of times I will down two cigarettes in the time most people smoke one, just because I can.

I am such a rotten smoker that it was common before I got married for me to smoke in the shower.

I was fooling myself to think that diet alone could improve my life, so it was time for me to quit.

More than a week and counting, and I intend to never go back.

This isn’t a New Year’s resolution that I am destined to break. This is a promise to my family, friends and enemies that I am changing my life for the better so that I can be around longer and enjoy life more.

I encourage you all to look around in your life at the people you value and consider how the decisions you make may affect them and their time with you. When you are ready for change, you will not be alone. Plenty of people will embrace and support you.

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